Monica Fairview, Author

To celebrate the release of The Other Mr Darcy , I'm running a month-long contest (courtesy of Sourcebooks, of course) for the whole month of October right here on my blog . The contest will feature one Pride and Prejudice related question every day. The Question-a-Day will focus mostly on Jane Austen's novel, but there'll be a few questions about the film adaptations as well. In order to enter the contest, you'll need to answer the Question of the Day (a sensible answer, please, completely wrong answers won't be entered). You'll be entered each time you answer. The more questions you answer, the more of a chance you'll have to win. There will be FIVE winners, chosen at random, with  four runners up and a Grand Prize of THE OTHER MR DARCY PLUS a box of CHOCOLATES to savour while you read. * Put your P&P thinking caps on and good luck! Feel free to post this information to your blog or a link on your social networking site… And don’t forget t...

My blog tour begins tomorrow, and I'm very eager to meet you all! Drop in along the way to get a chance to win a free copy of The Other Mr Darcy and to learn more about this unusual Austen sequel. Good luck with winning! Scroll down for the full blog tour schedule. Monica Fairview, The Other Mr Darcy Sourcebooks Landmark (October 1, 2009) ISBN 978-1402225130

Well, launch time is approaching, and to help me celebrate, I've started seeing some positive and insightful responses. I love the variety of approaches people have. It just goes to show how individualistic the act of reading is. Becky Laney over at Becky's Book Reviews says it made her smile, and found it "a surprisingly delightful read." Gayle Surrette from A Curious Statistical Anomaly analyses Caroline's transformation and concludes that The Other Mr Darcy is "a worthy addition" to Austenesque sequels. Rachel A Hyde at MyShelf enjoyed the historical background, the tone of the novel, and the characters from P&P. "Settle down to enjoy some excellent descriptions of house parties, carriage travel, balls and of course the company of most of the characters from the original novel," she says. I was also thrilled to discover I've been reviewed in Library Journal . Jane Jorgenson, from Madison P.L., spoke of "the familiar a...

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Waterstones (UK) and  Amazon.co.uk  already have the next novel in my Darcy Cousins series up on their website and available for pre-order! I have to say it's a thrill to see it there. I've been so busy with the launch of my US edition of The Other Mr Darcy that I'd put it on the back burner. But there it was, a clear reminder that my next book will be appearing in the very near future. It's also a timely reminder that I need to be working faster on my third sequel! Here's the blurb, hot off the press: What would you do if you had a brother like Mr Darcy? Overprotective, powerful, and full of pride? In this coming-of-age story, Georgiana joins forces with her lively American cousin, Miss Clarissa Darcy, to challenge the expectations forced upon her. But what starts out as mere playful mischief soon turns serious when Miss Anne de Bourgh suddenly vanishes and the consequences of Georgiana's rebellion become v...

This isn't very writerly, but I really wanted to write about it. I was very saddened today by loss of folk singer Mary Travers from Peter, Paul and Mary. I don't know the origin of the flower/peace vs war symbolism (and for once I'm not going to research it), but I always associate it with Mary because of her quintessential song "Where have all the flowers gone?". Her songs were so simple, yet they had the power to influence so many people and move them to action. Not just Peter, Paul and Mary, of course, but Bob Dylan ("Blowing in the Wind", which Mary sang as well), Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and others who were the voices of their generation. Though to judge by the clip below, Mary Travers looks like she would fit in a glossy magazine today, retro style (Just ignore the guys). Flower power to you, Mary Travers. May you rest in peace. Mary Travers "Blowing in the Wind"

It's only 20 days until the book comes out. I've been very busy preparing for the blog tour, and I'm eager to visit all the different sites and get to know people there. Today I was at a Romantic Novelists' Association chapter meeting in London, in which we got expert advise on web hosting from John Hocking, who had a great deal to say, all of it useful. Of course, there was a great deal to say all around, not strictly speaking useful, perhaps, but all very enjoyable. I do love meeting up with my fellow writer-friends! Meanwhile, a Search Inside option has been added to The Other Mr Darcy on Amazon.com , so now you can have a brand new sneak preview! Make sure to head over that way for a taster.

10th of September is Colin Firth's birthday, so we have something to celebrate! I'll be indulging myself watching Pride and Prejudice again, guilt-free. Isn't it nice to be able to give in to your addictions? Of course, ahem, this is work-related. I do have a sequel to write. I'll have pen and paper at the ready to make notes, and I'll be viewing with a professional eye. ;) Meanwhile, here is one of my favorite scenes, Darcy's first appearance. And Caroline's there, too, which is fun for me. Cheers, Mr Darcy -- I mean Colin Firth !

My blog tour will be beginning September 28th with Fallen Angel Reviews. Please mark these dates on you calenders, and make sure to follow me on the tour for your chance to win a free copy of The Other Mr Darcy . September 28: Fallen Angel Reviews  *adult content* September 29: The Review from Here/ScribVibe September 30: Everything Victorian October 1: The Good, the Bad, the Unread October 2: A Bibliophile’s Bookshelf October 5: Grace’s Book Blog October 6: The Burton Review October 7: Bloody Bad Books October 7: Austenprose October 8: The Long and the Short Reviews October 9: Love Romance Passion October 11: Curious Statistical Anomaly October 12: Good and Bad Books  *adult content* October 13: Lib’s Library October 16: Fresh Fiction I'm looking forward to seeing you on the way!

Since the American edition of my book The Other Mr Darcy is coming out in paperback in October (Street date October 7th), I'm getting ready for a whirlwind blog tour the end of September, beginning of October. I can't wait to get started! I've been asked to blog on a number of sites I really like, so I'm very happy about that. Meanwhile, now that I've mentioned October, a smattering of rain hits the window, and the wind bends the tree towards me as if to remind me that it's that time of the year when the leaves change colour. How did the summer pass so quickly? Have you noticed how summers race by? I'm very much a summer person, though I'm not very much into getting tanned (mostly because I don't tan easily, and then when I do, the tan fades so quickly I might as well not have bothered!). But I love that sense of anticipation in the air, the feeling of openness that comes from being free of coats and scarves and boots. I suppose that's what I l...